The dude that seems to have your team’s number EVERY time. You involuntarily start to dry heave when you see him on TV making an amazing play. You actually hate him. And if he happens to get injured, you don’t feel bad.

You know that dude. Or dudes . . .

At this very moment, there are two players that I want to punch in the face.

Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals: He always answers. It’s the match up the NHL dreamed about all season. Sid “The Kid” Crosby versus Alexander “The (puke) Great” Ovechkin in the playoffs battling for bragging rights in a well documented hate – hate relationship. Through two games, he has responded to every goal and has matched Crosby’s 4 goals in the series with 4 of his own. His excessive celebrating and lack of respect for his competition makes him the NHL’s version of Terrell Owens, except he doesn’t drop the puck and is leading his team, not destroying it. I can’t stand him.

Matt Garza, Tampa Bay Rays: Spitface. It seems like every time the camera is on him, he is spitting on the mound. In between EVERY pitch. Annoying. Even more annoying is the fact that the Red Sox just can’t figure him out. His ONLY two wins this season have come against Boston. Since his stellar Game 7 performance in the ALCS last year, which earned him MVP honors, Garza has dominated my team. In his last start versus the Sox, he engineered a 13-0 win with 10 strikeouts, taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning before Jacoby Ellsbury got to him. That clobbering made Garza 7-1 with a 2.54 ERA in 10 career starts against Boston. ARGGGHHHHHH!

For now, that’s who I am hating on . . .

P.S. Of course, you would love to have that dude on YOUR team . . . Jerks.

Historic Home of the 10th Red Sox Player to Win the AL MVP Award, Dustin Pedroia

THE SOX WIN! THE SOX WIN! Even though the Red Sox came up empty in a bid to repeat as World Series Champs in 2008, they did beat the Tampa Bay Rays in one category – MVP votes! Hey, Red Sox Nation has to take solace in something . . .

WATER THE LAWN! THE SECOND BASEMAN MVP DROUGHT IS GONE: With 16 first place votes, Dustin Pedroia became the first second baseman to capture the hearts of MVP voters since Nellie Fox won it with the Chicago White Sox in 1959 – that’s just a year after my Mom was born and two years after my Dad came into existence – as lifelong Boston fans, they are seeing the first second baseman win the MVP since they can remember and voila! It’s a Sox player . . . happy days, happy days . . .

IN GOOD COMPANY: Pedroia became only the third player in MLB history to win the MVP award the season after capturing Rookie of the Year following Cal Ripken Jr and Ryan Howard. And guess what? With a $457,000 salary from Boston in 2008, he did NOT have an MVP bonus clause in his contract . . .

What’s up with that, Theo?

Santa might be bringing a little something for the new AL MVP – don’t ya think?

TWO OUT OF THREE AIN’T BAD: Not far behind Dustin Pedroia was teammate Kevin Youkilis – utlilty player extraordinaire – who came in third place behind Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins. While David Ortiz was nursing a wrist injury. and JD Drew and Mike Lowell also feeling the pain, not to mention Manny Ramirez being cross country in Dodger blue, both Youkilis and Pedroia came up BIG TIME in providing clutch hits and power in the batting order.